Barbados has a long standing connection with the United Kingdom, and many of the visitors to this lovely island are British, happy to exchange the often dreary skies of back home for the paradise beaches of the Caribbean. The UK is therefore the main source of visitors for Barbados making up about 40% of tourists, another 25% coming from the USA and 10% from Canada as of 2007. However visitors do travel here from all over the world including the USA, Canada, even other parts of the Caribbean. Barbados is a coral island, pushed out of sea by volcanic activity in a far away time. On the West Coast of Barbados, coral shore beaches of fine white sand stretch along a blue-green sea. Coral reefs fringe the Barbados shoreline to provide excellent snorkelling and Scuba Diving. Along the East Coast a lively surf is blown briskly by the strong and constant trade winds and the waves pound against a rocky shore. The constant breeze of the trade winds give Barbados a mild and pleasant tropical climate. When you visit Barbados, you will see it is mostly a flat coral island with excellent beaches, but there are rolling hills and many deep ridges and gullies, with an interesting distribution of flora and fauna. Within the Barbados coral core there is a vast array of caves and underground lakes which provide an excellent supply of drinking water that is amongst the purest in the world. Geologically Barbados is unique, being actually two land masses that merged together over the years. This and other anomalies make this Caribbean Island quite phenomenal, and there are geological structures that you will find only in Barbados.Barbados is a very beautiful island, with lots of art, activities, night life, music, history and some of the best restaurants to be found anywhere. But what makes Barbados even more special, and the reason why so many visitors keep returning to the island year after year, is the people. Barbadians, called Bajans, are warm and friendly souls, always ready to greet you with a sincere smile. Bajans make you feel welcome and special, in this lovely Caribbean Island. You will feel its your home and will want to come back again and again to Barbados: A unique Caribbean paradise, surprisingly sophisticated, friendly, fun and always Naturally Charming!
FAST FACTS AND FIGURES
CAPITAL: Bridgetown
POPULATION: Approximately 254,000
CLIMATE: Eight to nine hours of sunshine most days. Temperature between 75 F and 90 F year round.
GEOGRAPHY: A 21 mile x 14 mile Caribbean island. West and South Coast have calm Caribbean sea and endless beaches. Rugged cliffs and Atlantic Ocean on East Coast.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English with a broad dialect.
CURRENCY: Barbados Dollar - US $1 = BDS $2 approx.
DRIVING: A temporary yearly Barbados licence costs BDS$10 and is obtainable from car rental agencies and Police Stations. Full licence must be shown. Drive on left.
TIME: GMT-4 hrs. There is no daylight saving time in Barbados
Barbadian Public Holidays
2011Saturday January 1st 2011 - New Year's Day
Friday January 21st 2011 - Errol Barrow Day
Friday April 22nd 2011 - Good Friday
Monday April 25th 2011 - Easter Monday
Thursday April 28th 2011 - National Heroes' Day
Sunday May 1st 2011 - Labour Day
Monday June 13th 2011 - Whit Monday
Monday August 1st 2011 - Emancipation Day
Monday August 1st 2011 - Kadooment Day - climax of the Crop Over festival
Wednesday November 30th 2011 - Independence Day - anniversary of Barbadian independence from UK in 1966
Sunday December 25th 2011 - Christmas Day
Monday December 26th 2011 - Boxing Day
Virgin Holidays Guide To Barbados
